Headline Love

Yi Lin

I dug my hands into my caramel leather jacket. The fall breeze chilled my fluffed up hair as I bounced up and down in an attempt to stay warm. 'Where is he?', I questioned impatiently, 'I thought he'd say he'd get here early?'

A shivering breeze shattered my face as I squeezed my eyes shut in regret, 'I shouldn't have rushed this morning if he was going to be late!', I groaned internally, not even the woolly white dress I chose could protect me from the Canadian draft. As a born and raised one, I should've known

'Are you going to stand there or are you going to get inside?'

My eyes flared open and the rumble of a vehicle drummed through my ears. I stared at the charcoal black Audi 8 with the silver rimmed wheels shining in the freezing sun in confusion until I met the stone face of the driver who's walnut hair was gelled to the side. 'Oh', I simply answered, 'Uh right'

The brash scent of roses and apples swelled in my nose as we set off. I settled into the comfortable leather seat that muffled the grumbling engine and the faint tune of Debussy emitted from the silver speakers. 'Nice car', I commented to break the ice

He remained silent and his unwavering gaze didn't help soothe my nervousness. He was a bear masking as a towering man and right now he looked...amused? no, annoyed-I couldn't tell.

The drive was as I expected it to be. Deathly silent with no words or whispers between us. If I were to pass away at that moment I doubt he would've even noticed. I puffed the strands of my hair away from my face and decided focused on the view outside instead. The sight of cheery blushing trees that withered away their leaves when the wind kissed them and the multicolored spread of crisp dried flowers that carpeted the sidewalks was a much better sight than this man touched vehicle I was in.

'I wish I had coffee right now', I wished aloud

My heart stopped at the blurted statement, 'You did it again!' my brain exclaimed, 'You and your big fat mouth are going to piss him off...again'

I flashed him a nervous look, 'Haha I was joking', I quickly retaliated against myself, 'I just usually have a matcha latte in the morning but today I can skip it cause you know caffeine sucks and every-'

'I know a place'

The fear dropped and was replaced by a sprouting confusion, 'You..', I began, 'What?'

'We can make a quick detour', he answered before spinning the steering wheel hastily

'Y-You're serious?'

His eyes locked on me for a minute, 'If detouring to get you coffee will make you shut up then it's worth it'

Annoyance bubbled beneath my skin, but he was taking me to get coffee. 'Don't bite the hand that feeds you', my mother would always tell me

So I remained silent as he parked

--

DeleteCreated with Sketch.

'What do you want?', he asked

It took me a moment to register my surroundings. The modern lights dangling from the wooden ceilings and jolting pop art captivated me instead. 'Uh just a matcha latte'

He nodded, '1 matcha latte and 1 cuppachino'

'That'll be $20"

My jaw dropped as he pulled out a card and waved it without a second thought, '$20!", I yelled in a whisper when we stood at the side and waited, 'How expensive is this place?!'

'Why are you even complaining?', he sighed at my bulging eyes

'Because-'

I cut myself off. He looked at me with an amaused face, like watching a toddler throw a tantrum

'He did paid for me', I repeated my head, 'Why...was I complaining?'

'Thank you', I replied as his brow raised, 'I just didn't think you'd have the heart to pay'

'I'm not that mean', he added, handing me the creamy olive green drink, 'Enjoy your matcha'

I peered down at his thick hand before outstretching mine to take the drink. To my surprise, I felt rough warmth against the condensed cool surface of the cup. Glancing back down, I realized my barren fingers had touched his. It was strange because he didn't recoil in disgust like I was some sort of poisonous snake, but he instead blinked in confusion as I remained frozen.

'Your drink?'

Those words pulled me back down to Earth and I snatched the cup from him whilst spitting out a loud laughter, 'HAHA THANK YOU!", I loudly exclaimed

His face hinted a glint of humor at my lame cover up, 'Your welcome'